A U.S.-born Olympic skier competing for Communist China while pocketing millions from Beijing has sparked outrage among patriots, with former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom calling out the stunning betrayal on national television.
Story Snapshot
- Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom branded U.S.-born skier Eileen Gu a “traitor” on Fox News for representing China at the 2026 Winter Olympics
- Gu received $14 million in payments from Beijing authorities over three years plus $23 million in endorsements while competing against her birth country
- Vice President JD Vance backed Freedom’s position, stating he prefers athletes who “identify as Americans”
- Freedom connected Gu’s decision to China’s horrific human rights abuses, including Uyghur concentration camps and Mao-era atrocities
Freedom Speaks Truth About Olympic Betrayal
Enes Kanter Freedom appeared on Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle” on February 17, 2026, delivering a scorching rebuke of Eileen Gu’s decision to abandon her American identity. Freedom, who became a U.S. citizen after his own battles against authoritarian regimes, pulled no punches in his assessment. He declared Gu a traitor for competing against her own country while representing the world’s worst human rights abuser. Freedom’s willingness to speak uncomfortable truths stands in stark contrast to the silence from many athletes who prioritize endorsement deals over American values and human dignity.
Beijing’s Cash Fuels Athletic Defections
Financial documents reveal the extent of China’s investment in recruiting American-born talent for Olympic glory. Eileen Gu and fellow defector Zhu Yi reportedly received $6.6 million from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau for 2026 Olympic qualifiers alone. Gu’s total haul exceeded $23 million when endorsement deals are included, creating a stunning financial incentive to turn her back on the country that nurtured her athletic development. This state-sponsored recruitment program represents China’s broader strategy of using economic leverage to advance its international prestige while American taxpayers funded the infrastructure and training programs that developed these athletes’ skills.
Human Rights Silence Speaks Volumes
Freedom drew explicit connections between Gu’s choice and China’s documented atrocities against its own people. He referenced the concentration camps holding over one million Uyghur Muslims and the estimated tens of millions who died under Mao Zedong’s brutal regime. Gu has maintained complete silence on these issues, mirroring the pattern Freedom identified in other athletes like LeBron James who refused to address China’s abuses in 2019. This selective blindness reveals the moral bankruptcy of prioritizing personal profit over speaking for the oppressed. When athletes born in freedom choose to represent tyranny without acknowledging its victims, they betray not just their country but fundamental human values.
Vice President Backs Patriotic Position
Vice President JD Vance reinforced Freedom’s message during his own Fox News appearance, stating his preference for rooting for athletes who identify as Americans. Vance carefully noted that eligibility decisions rest with the International Olympic Committee while making clear his personal stance on national loyalty. His comments reflect growing frustration among conservatives with athletes who benefit from American freedoms and opportunities before abandoning their country for authoritarian regimes offering financial rewards. The Vice President’s measured but firm position signals that the Trump administration recognizes the broader implications of these defections for national identity and values in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Thank God for Enes Kanter Freedom: The US Cheers as Traitor Eileen Gu Crashes Out – No Tears for Sellouts https://t.co/YZBtEb5wzS
— Dallys1515 💋 (@Dallys1515) February 18, 2026
Gu has attempted to position herself above the controversy, claiming she represents the Olympic spirit of unity while sympathizing with athletes caught in political crossfire. Yet this rings hollow when she willingly chose to represent a regime actively engaged in genocide and repression. Her two silver medals at the 2026 Milan Olympics demonstrate her athletic prowess, but they cannot erase the fundamental question Freedom raised about loyalty and moral responsibility. The IOC’s permissive rules enable such nationality switches, but rules do not determine right from wrong. As Freedom’s activism continues exposing uncomfortable truths about China’s influence in sports, Americans increasingly reject the notion that personal profit justifies abandoning one’s country and conscience.
Sources:
Enes Kanter Freedom calls Eileen Gu ‘traitor’ for representing China at Olympics – Fox News
Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Calls Eileen Gu a Traitor for Representing China at Olympics – Rant Sports
Controversial Olympian Eileen Gu Upset – AOL
